Chapter 22: Starting Tomorrow

(Part One)

Tonight’s dinner is truly lavish, the first time Cola’s felt full at Liuli’s house.
“Burp… ugh, ha, satisfying.”
She leans back in her chair, cradling a half-empty Cola, eyes lazily squinted.

Outside, rain falls again, dimming the already faint yellow streetlights into a hazy glow.
“Pfft, Little Cola looks like a drunk uncle,” Liuli’s mom chuckles, covering her mouth.
“Drunk on Cola?”
“It’s not the drink that intoxicates, but the heart. The rain’s pretty intoxicating too…”
“Mm… what?”
Liuli blinks, confused by Cola’s occasional Chinese outbursts.
“It means, even without alcohol, you can get drunk if your heart’s in it—not your body.”
“Mm… so poetic.”
“But seriously, that was a great meal. Thanks for the treat.”
“Didn’t realize Little Cola had such an appetite. Were you not full before? So sorry.”
“No, no, Aunt, don’t say that. I just, cough, ate more ‘cause it was so good.”
As Cola pats herself for her high EQ, Liuli pipes up blankly, “So the past few days’ food wasn’t good?”
“No, no, damn it, not what I meant!”
Cola waves frantically.
“Today’s was extra good. Before was top-notch, this was supreme!”
“I get you, Little Cola. As long as you enjoyed it.”
“Liuli, don’t twist my words…”
Cola sighs in relief.
“Mm… s-sorry…”
“Don’t apologize, it’s a small thing.”
“Mm!”
“So, who’s bathing first tonight?”
“Miss Cola, you go.”
“Alright, I’ll go first. Might soak a bit, that okay?”
“No problem, enjoy!”

(Part Two)

After a quick rinse, Cola plops into the small bathtub.
Japanese homes can be tiny, but a bathtub is non-negotiable.
No tub? That’s just shabby.
Size doesn’t matter much, though.
Before Japan, Cola thought bathtubs had to fit a grown man’s stretched-out legs.
Here, she found ones where you hug your knees to soak…
She doubted they’d be relaxing, but after trying—yup, they work.
“When I’m back in Qingguo, I’ll make Mom put a tub in the second-floor bathroom. No… buy a new place, a big flat in S City’s center! She’s got the cash, stingy old…!”
Cola grumbles, grabbing an ice-cold Cola from the fridge, popping it with a click, and chugging.
“Phew—ha! Ice Cola while soaking is the best! Gotta finish quick before it warms…”
These past days have been packed, event after event.
Now, with the rental nearly sorted—minus water and electricity—she can move in tomorrow.
No big plans left, her tense nerves finally loosen, giving her time to reflect.
Even days later, being a girl still feels unreal.
Seeing the tiny tub, she wondered if she’d fit.
Only after sitting, legs stretched, did she realize her new, petite body fits fine.
Being a girl has perks—this small tub feels cozy, not cramped.
Through the bathroom’s frosted window, vague shadows pass.
Even on a rainy day, this quiet street isn’t deserted.
Compared to Tokyo, a global megacity, Maebashi feels like a rural county town.
But Cola likes it—maybe because it’s where ordinary Japanese live.
Thinking this, she giggles, wiggling her delicate toes, then grabs her small feet, barely bigger than her hands.
“Heh, hehehe… so cute… who says you can’t be into your own body? It’s my body, and I’m interested, okay…”
She licks her lips, wedging a shampoo bottle between her thighs, rubbing lightly.
“Hiss… damn, if this was my girlfriend’s body, I don’t know if I could handle it…”
Her refined face reflects in the clear water, yet she’s not bored—full of curious exploration.
“Hm, if I could… cough, with myself… well, this body’s pretty flexible, maybe I could reach… hm… no taste…”

(Part Three)

Cola’s legs tremble as she stumbles out of the bathroom, hair dripping, too drained to blow-dry.
“Miss Cola, done?
Two hours—you really love soaking.”
“Cough, rainy days make baths cozy, got carried away…”
“Your body… okay?”
Liuli’s mom eyes her unnaturally flushed face.
“You alright?
Soaked too long, caught a cold?”
“N-no!”
Cola shakes her head vigorously.
“Just soaked too long, legs numb!
Ha, haha!”
“Rest well then.
We’ve got a hairdryer, you know… not drying your hair?”
“It’s fine, it’ll dry soon, feels cool like this.”
“You’ll catch a chill.”
“I toweled it off…”
“Alright.”
“Goodnight then, Aunt.”
“Here, take this milk upstairs.
Sweet dreams.”
“Thanks…”
Wobbling upstairs, Cola sees the bedding laid out.
Liuli’s at the 50-inch TV, bang bang playing her game.
“Eh, Miss Cola, done already?”
“Already?
It’s almost 8:30.”
“Eh~?
That long?”
“Cough, soaked a bit too much.”
Cola, planning to scroll her phone, gets drawn to the fight on screen and plops beside Liuli.
“Playing this, huh.”
“Yup, feels like the yakuza we saw today!”
“You liking a yakuza game is surprising.”
“At first, I thought beating and killing was too much, but the story’s so intense!
The hero’s on the side of justice!
I wanna punch who he punches!”
“You’re pretty good, pulling off combos like that.
Damn, that counter’s slick.”
“Ehehe… I’m good at games, you know?”
“Not lowest difficulty, is it?”
“How rude, Miss Cola, it’s the highest!”
“Wow, legit impressive.”
“Mm!
I’ll finish this part and go bathe.
Wanna play, Miss Cola?”
“If I play, you’ll miss the story.
Nah.”
“Then fight some street battles, earn cash?
I’ll shower quick and be back!”
“Alright… can I handle highest difficulty?”
“You’ll be fine!
Dying’s no big deal!”
“Uh, let’s see.”
Cola takes the controller, muttering, “This map’s well done.
Boxy, but detailed.
Which button’s attack… huh, she’s off to shower already?”

(Part Four)

Rain still falls outside.
No AC, just a bladeless fan spinning lazily.
Cool air drifts in, carried by the fan across the room.
It’s late, but Liuli’s mom’s watching a taiga drama downstairs—something about Ryoma Echizen’s death, mixed with faint sobs, either from the show or her.
Liuli’s still gaming, looking like she could go till dawn.
A warm Cola bottle tips over, its leftover red liquid sloshing with the breeze.
“Ha—phew…”
Tired of watching yakuza fights, Cola rolls onto her bedding, grabbing her phone to scroll.
“Miss Cola, sleepy?”
“A bit.
Wanna sleep early, head to the new place tomorrow…”
“Moving in tomorrow?
No water or electricity, that okay?”
“I can bathe here at night and go back, should be fine.”
“Miss Cola…!
Stay a few more days, it’s no trouble!”
“I prefer living alone.
It’s too much hassle for your mom.
I can grab a convenience store bento and call it a meal.”
“Mm… then I’ll stay with you?”
“Hey, no water, no power, what’s the point?”
“Kinda reluctant…”
Liuli turns, teary-eyed, staring at her.
“Hey, don’t act like it’s a farewell!
We’re two steps away!”
“B-but, you’ll meet new people, new friends, and slowly… we’ll drift apart, from best friends to… to just normal friends…”
“Don’t cry!”
Cola sits up, flustered, putting a hand on Liuli’s shoulder, struggling for words.
“Guuh… I finally have a close friend… w-without you, Miss Cola… I-I have so many happy things, no one to share with…”
“No, no, we’ll always be best friends!
You’re my Embraced vampire, we’re… like, blood-bonded.
No way we’ll drift apart, we’ll only get closer…”
“Eh…”
“What’s closer than best friends?”
“N-new bride?
Eh—be your bride, Miss Cola?
Tch-too early for me…!”
“Damn it, I didn’t say that!”
“Ehh—”
“…Why so disappointed?!”
“You bullied me.”
“Did I?”
“…Didn’t you?”
“What’d I bully you about?”
“You said you don’t wanna be friends.”
“I didn’t!”
“Eh… I misheard?”
“You’re too pessimistic, twisting my words!
We’ll be best friends forever!
You’re my first Embraced, I’m responsible for you…”
Liuli blinks, staring for a long moment, then bursts into a teary laugh.
“Uh… what?”
“I believe you, Miss Cola.”
“Cough…”
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll have a new life.”
“Yeah.”
Cola brushes her silver hair, glancing at the red-eyed girl in the mirror, taking a deep breath.
“A new life, in every sense…”

Prologue Volume: A New Life as a Girl
Complete!

Stay tuned for the next volume—
Volume One: Miss Cola Doesn’t Drink Pepsi!